Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the other OC characters in this story. I cannot claim that I own any WWE Superstars, events, locations, or the WWE itself. I'm entirely too poor and unlucky for that to be the case – believe me, ask my student loan payments.

I'm writing for my own enjoyment, as well as that of my readers. Please review this piece, and let me know if there are suggestions, ideas, or just your thoughts. I appreciate the feedback.

CHAPTER 4

John smiled at Tessa, showing every bit of that thousand watt smile. Before he could reply, Tessa pulled his lips back to hers; her hands wrapped around his neck. John picked her up like she was a rag doll, carried her over and sat her up on the railing lightly. Tessa let a soft moan escape, and felt John smile against her lips. All conscious thought was gone from her head, and John's mind was right behind hers, and neither moved for the next twenty minutes. When their lips parted again, John pressed his forehead against Tessa's lightly, trying to process what had just transpired. He felt her slender fingers run up his neck, through his hair, and settle as she held tight to his cheeks. Both drew in quick breaths, and John finally leaned back from Tessa.

"So, clearly you're that much of a wuss. Feel better that you waited all this time to do that?" Tessa smirked as John pulled his hands, shoving them into his pants pockets.

"Yeah, I know - stupid, right?" John's eyes were darting back and forth between the floor and Tessa's face. She could feel the nervous energy coming off him.

"John, just shut up." His face darted back to looking her head on, and the desire that was dripping from her gaze was beyond recognizable. "Let's just stop with the talking; make up for lost time, please?"

"That doesn't sound like the Tessa I know," John's mood lightened slightly as her words softly cooed in his ears. "Are you sure about this?" Tessa nodded, hopping off the railing. She started to blow out the candles that flickered on the porch. As she blew softly on the last light, and it went dark, she grabbed John's hand.

"If you want to, you're welcome to stay. Otherwise, I'm happy to take you back to your house." John's eyes adjusted to the lack of suitable light, and he focused in on her face. Her eyes glinted from the small light coming from the moon, and her lips were soft and drawn into a small smile. It reminded him of warmth he hadn't felt in some time.

"I'm good." It was all John could muster. There was no logic left in his body, and if the truth be told, going home to a cold and lonely bed in his old bedroom paled in comparison to what he was being offered.

Tessa led him in through the back door and wound him around the house to a set of stairs that would take them to the basement. Tessa flipped the light switch, and John marveled at the photos and awards which lined the walls.

"That is my team photo from our first national title. And that one is from the Team USA trials. I'm sure you remember this one." Tessa tapped the glass frame that held a piece of paper reading 'Athlete of the Year'. John could not help to think back to that night…

"Maybe I should pull the trigger tonight? What do you think?" John was smoothing his freshly pressed shirt in front of the mirror, while his brother Matt was laying back on the bed.

"I don't know why you waited this long. That girl is hot." Matt chuckled at himself, knowing it would get under his brother's skin.

"Yup." John started to focus on his hair, trying to achieve a perfect look, which took all of two seconds.

"And you, bro, are a pussy for waiting this long. Give it a try. If she doesn't take you up on it, there is always the other one. You know Amelia would eat dog shit if you told her it would make you like her back." John tossed a comb at Matt, glowering at him. "Okay, okay. But there is no reason to keep doing this mopey thing; after four years of listening to it, it's getting old. I'm going to be happy when you go to school if you continue to puss out – then you can whine to your new roommates." Matt laughed as he jumped off the bed and out of his brother's room before John could get his hands on him.

John walked in from his car to the hall where the awards banquet was being held. He brought up the rear of the group of football players who had gravitated to each other. His eyes were searching the crowd for her, hoping he could at least see her before there was the chance he spilled something on himself. They seated everyone and got started with the speeches and team awards. Jeff was here with the baseball team, so I know she has to show, John thought slowly. Her game can't still be going…

Time went on, and as the dinner neared a close, the doors to the banquet center opened mightily, causing everyone to turn and see who was making a triumphant entrance. There she was, right in the middle of the cheering and rowdy group of girls. The announcer, i.e. Principal, asked the question that was on everyone's mind. Had they won? All the girls turned to look at Tessa, who played it off flawlessly, dropping her chin and kicked at the floor; John's heart sank believing that she had tripped right at the top of it all. At that moment, she thrust a huge trophy in the air and yelled loudly as her team followed her in the cheers. The room erupted; Jeff ran over to grab Tessa and hoist her even higher. John clapped and whistled with everyone else, and admired just how she looked coming in off the field; Tessa's hair was messy, she had dirt all over her jersey and shorts, and was wearing simple Nike slide sandals over her high socks and stirrups, and he thought it was the most beautiful she had ever looked.

As the crowd died down, the returning champions were seated at their table, and a late meal was placed in front of the girls. Their coach took his time in giving the awards, and confirmed that it had been a voting process between the seniors on who would get which. Tessa clapped for each of her friends who garnered a plaque, and she nabbed a few herself. John's friends began pointing and laughing as his face flushed bright crimson when her name was called. Finally, the dinner had drawn to a close. There was but one award left, and most people believed John's name would be called out. But it wasn't; he had lost to Tessa, who looked almost amazed that she had been given a mention. As she took the paper and shook the director's hand, Tessa caught John's eyes. He smiled widely and nodded to her; she sheepishly nodded back before waving to everyone.

John pushed his way through the crowd as people were leaving, and finally got his chance. "Congrats, Tessa. Really good job."

She turned and tucked a strand of caramel hair behind her ear. "Thank you, but I don't think I deserve all this attention. This should probably be yours."

"Don't be silly; you work very hard – it's what people without talent have to do, I guess. I wouldn't know." John smirked as Tessa feigned surprise at his joke. God, her eyes could hold his attention for hours, and that smile was enough to make him melt. Tessa blushed under his gaze, and took to looking at her sandals. "I don't suppose you are going to do anything tonight, are you?" John started to wheeze slightly, and prayed she wouldn't notice.

"Uhm, I don't think so, but why?" Was this really happening? Tessa could barely believe this day.

"Well, I think that some of us are going to hang out, maybe. You know, it's not often we get champions to come with." John laughed lightly at his own humor. Tessa stood and stared at him quietly.

"I guess I could. Can't be out too late, but maybe for a little bit. Care if Jeff comes with me?"

"Jeff. Sure. No problem. What, is he like, your boyfriend, or something?" John's emotions were a mixture of hope and anger. He finally got up the nerve to say something, she accepts, and now he had another hurdle to clear.

"Jeff? Oh, no. Just my friend. We usually hang out after games, so I hate to bail on him." Why was he being so defensive about her friend? Tessa didn't quite understand.

"I understand. Look, I think we will be hanging out in Frank's basement, so feel free to come on by whenever you like." Tessa nodded and turned to wander back to her friends that were waiting. John could barely contain his excitement that this could happen. This could finally be the time he got what he had been so hopeful to gain.

"Oh, I remember that night. And that dress, God that green dress was amazing. I'm pretty sure I spent most of the night starting at you in that dress." John's memory sparked a smile to cross his face at the picture he held of Tessa in that dress. Her hair was down, and her face and body held a deep, rich tan from all her time spent outside training. Her green eyes sparkled, and her smile was totally disarming. But that dress; it was silky and clung to just the right places. It showed a modest peek at her cleavage, and ended in the mid-thigh range, letting John marvel at her toned legs and wonder what it would be like to have them wrapped around his own body. She wore her usual sparkly flip-flops. Tessa looked beautiful, and John was glued to her every move.

"Trip down memory lane that good?" Tessa chuckled as she saw the dreamy look glaze over John's eyes. He could only slowly nod back to her question, so she pushed on down the stairs with his hand held in hers. As they reached the basement living room, Tessa flipped a light on to illuminate the whole room; everything was covered in Arizona memorabilia, and jerseys which had been framed and hung up. Medals, posters, and autographs were littered around. John took particular care to inspect a poster of Tessa, mid-pitch, in her Team USA uniform. The look of intensity and power written on her face was causing him to bristle. Her arm was frozen, ball gliding away from her slender fingers, and every muscular bump was popped. She looked as though she was made of steel; cold, callous, and a force to be reckoned with.

Tessa pulled John down a hallway and into a large, open room. She turned on her light revealing her old room. It was a light lavender color with rather comfortable looking furniture. He could see a large messy bed, and Tessa disappeared into a deep closet to change.

"Make yourself at home, John. I'll be just a second." Tessa grabbed a silk shift dress from her luggage, wondering if she should just go for broke. Then, thought better of it. She changed again into one of her old t-shirts and a pair of shorts. She tousled her hair, trying to achieve perfect lift before re-emerging to find John looking over one of her yearbooks while sitting on the end of her bed. "Find anything good?"

John took a long look at the woman who stood before him. Her legs remained long and lithe, with just the right amount of curves. Her hair fell perfectly over her shoulders and framed her tan face. When she wandered over to put her jewelry on top of the dresser, John admired the movement of her backside as the shorts she was wearing crept upward as she leaned forward. Despite the fact that the shirt she wore was too large and she was lost in it, he could only fantasize about how her toned body hidden underneath would feel in his hands again. John suddenly read the shirt itself, realizing that it was a mock jersey shirt reading his number. It was from homecoming their senior year, when all the players had sections of fans wearing their numbers and jerseys. Amelia, of course, had lobbied tirelessly and ruthlessly to be the person tapped to wear his actual jersey, and won simply because she held the pom-poms. But Tessa had kept herself, blended into the back, wearing something that was decidedly his. As she turned, he stood and walked over to her.

"You look even better. Didn't think it was possible, but you did it." Tessa's cheeks flushed dark red, and she dropped her head. "How long you been wearing my number around?"

"It was a comfy shirt, so I kept it to sleep in."

"Riiight. There wasn't another reason, was there?" Tessa rubbed the back of her neck, and sidestepped John. She made her way over to her bed, smoothing out the covers then sitting down.

"You caught me. But, you already know; just made me remember a lot of good things rather than the bad."

"Well, I'm glad I could help." John crossed the room and sat near Tessa on her bed. He leaned back on his elbows. He really did love the way Tessa's cheeks often betrayed her, and she thought that hiding her face was the answer. John let himself fully relax on the bed, laying back and offering his hand to her. As it lay resting on the crook of her knee, palm up, Tessa began to trace her delicate fingers over it.

"I don't want you to think you're being held captive. I'm sure that there is some kind of gathering somewhere; if you would like me to take you, I'm more than happy to." Tessa kept tracing the weathered skin of John's fingers; his hands were larger than her own. Her eyes kept watching his arms twitch, and she could not keep herself from wondering how he managed to grow so much muscle on the frame that used to be considerably thinner.

"I'm pretty happy here so far. Hell, I used to only be able to imagine what this room looked like, and probably would have paid someone for a glimpse for the longest time. The fact that I'm here, and you're wearing my old jersey number; that's just a bonus." He grinned as Tessa smiled back. He closed his hand around hers, and pulled her down to him. Before she could protest in her typical fashion, he pressed his lips lightly to hers.

The intensity between them began to accelerate; there was no going back from where they had found themselves. John paused just long enough to roll over above Tessa, before picking her up and laying her back down further on the bed. He held himself above her frame, searching her face for any trepidation about where he was leading them. He found none.

Her eyes had began to sparkle in a different shade of green; very dark and deep. Her hands roamed over his shoulders and arms, tracing her long fingers down his chest and stomach, causing him to tremble slightly. Tessa could since his pause, and became acutely aware that he was ever more a gentleman than she believed him to be. "John, it's okay; you're not forcing me to do anything I don't agree to." Her reassurance had steadied his body, and he lowered his head to hers, his lips releasing hot breath into her ear, causing Tessa to release a very guttural moan. She was never this impetuous in anything she did, and her mind was not fully in control; her hormones and emotions had taken over; she would not allow herself to think her way out of this opportunity.

"Never thought this would happen. I had my hopes, never thought I'd see it happen…but I'm not going to disappoint." John made quick work to rid both of them of their clothing, and began working slowly with Tessa. He found her to be a very willing participant and enjoyed the adventure with her just as much as she seemed to.

Collapsing next to her, John offered his chest and arm to Tessa for a place to lay. She quickly curled herself around his body, like the spot had been perfectly designed for her, and her alone. Neither spoke whilst trying to catch their breath and process the situation they found themselves in. John finally exhaled, sufficiently refreshed, and broke the silence.

"Wow. I, uh,"

"I know. Wow." Tessa was just as speechless as John. "That was, uh, good. Really good. Really, really good actually." Her cheeks burned white-hot.

John wanted to be smug and let his ego take over, but he was just as excited as Tessa found herself. "Hmm, yeah, I've got nothing." The smile could not be wiped from his face, and he found himself staring at the ceiling of her room. He enjoyed having her contorted around his body, and he clung to her tighter in spite of himself. You're really in it now, John, he thought silently. Oh well.